Flotation agent and process of producing same



Patented Apr. 16, 1929. i

BUBNELL n. rumson, or ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

FLQTATION AGENT AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING SAME.

No Drawing.

This invention involves improvements in processes of ore concentration and has particular reference to ore concentration by flotation. In these processes the powdered ore is usually mixed with water, such mixture being termed the pulp,and tQl-lllS pulp is added the flotation agent, consisting of an oil or oils, or a frothing agent or agents or both, and the pulp is then sub jected to agitation and aeration; for example, supra-aeration by air introduced from above by beating it into the pulp, or by subaeration by air introduced from below through aporous medium or otherwise. As is well known in the art, the result of this aeration is that the air bubbles coursing through the pulp gather up the metalllferous particles and carry them to the surface Where they form a froth. This froth may be readily floated over a lip or dam, and will thus carry the metalliferous particles away from the body of the liquid. In these processes a mineral acid, such as sulfuric acid, is in some instances used in addition to the frothing agent, and in other instances, an alkali is usedin addition to the frothing agent, and these additional substances, acid or alkaline, act in some manner not clearly understood to modify the properties of the liquid or ore and to assist the flotation of the metalliferous mineral and to retard or prevent the flotation of the gangue. This invention relates specifically to the processes of producing, and the material so produced, for use in ore flotation.

This invention relates more specifically to oils containing sulfur compounds, which mixtures I have found to have peculiar-and valuable coating, fiocculating, and froth or scum-forming properties. These lmproved flotation compounds may be obtained from crude petroleum, petroleum distillates, products from petroleum cracking processes, shale oils, shale oil distillates, gas and,wood tars, still gases, still residues, residues from treating petroleum or coal tar products, oxidized oils, and wood oils, by treating them as hereinafter described:

For example, this process may be carr ed out and the products obtained by treatmg a petroleum distill-ate obtained from the thermal decomposition of higher bOlllIlg etroleum hydro-carbons by the so-called cracking process. The cracked petroleum distillate is washed with an alkali, for

Application filed February 9, 1924. Serial No. 691,811.

example with 10% by volume of 18 B. caustic soda solution in a suitable agitator and the caustic soda solution collected from the bottom of' the agitator. This caustic solution is then treated with an acid, such as 66 B. sulfuric acid until the excess alkali is neutralized, and the oil so set free is allowed to collect as an upper layer n the container. It may be of advantage mstead of using fresh acid in the neutralizatlon of this caustic solution to use acid recovered lfrom a previous treatment of. petroleum hydro-carbons. This oil may be separated as indicated or may be extracted. from the solution by means of a suitable "0 solvent, such as benzol. The oil may then be separated by distilling off the benzol. It is understood that the process may be carried out by the use of an alkali other than caustic soda, and the alkali treatment "5 may be made eitherpreceding or subsequent to an acid treatment, usually sulfuric acid, as carried out in petroleum refining. The oil so formed is'the improved flotation agent. Unlike most oils, the flotation agent of this invention possesses coating, 'flocculating and frOthing properties; for example, on a copper or lead sulfide no further additions of oils are necessary. These properties are evidenced in both acid and alkaline solutions. Furthermore, many oxidized ores, such as copper or lead carbonate, may be floated by this oil without the addition of other oils or sulphidizing agents, such as sodium sulfide. If sulphidizing agents, such as sodium sulfide, are used, the quantity may be materially reduced when using this oil. In some cases, it. may be desirable to add frothing agents to the oil, such as soaps, sulfidized pine oil, or other agents well known to the art. At times, it is also of advantage to add to the oils of this invention a coating oil, such as petroleum, shale oil, or other coating agent known to the art.

This invention may be used in conjunction with any of the well known or patented processes of ore concentration by froth flotation, either for the separation of the 7 metalliferous constituents of an ore from 5 the gan us, or for the separation of different metalli erous constituents from one another.-

Having thus described my invention, I. claim:

1. A process 'of the character described,

thus dividing the mixture into a liquid al-,

kali layer containing alkali-soluble constituents and a liquid layer containing alkaliinsoluble constituents, separating the layers from each other, neutralizing the alkali layer to cause an oily material to separate out, and segregating said oily material for-use as a flotation agent. a

8. A process of the character described,

I which comprises washing a petroleum naphtion agent.

tha with an alkali solution, thus dividing the mixture into a liquid alkali layer contain ing alkali-soluble constituents and a liquid layer containing alkali-insoluble constitu-.

ents, separating the layers from each other, neutralizing the alkali layer to cause an oily materlal to separate out, and segregating said oily material for use as a flota:

4. A process of the character described, which includes-washinga sulfurous petroleum distillate with a caustic soda solution, thus dividing the mixture into a liquid alkali layer containing alkali-soluble constit uents and a liquid layer containing alkali insoluble constituents, separating the two layers from each other, neutralizing the alkali layer to cause an oily material to separate out, and segregating said oily material for use as a flotation agent.

5. The process of producing a material for use in ore flotation, which-comprises treating a petroleum naphtha with 18-2 B. gravity caustic soda solution, separating the alkali layer, adding 90-98% strength sulfuric acid to said alkali layer, and separating the oil so formed by extraction with a solvent.

6. The process of producing a material for use in ore flotation, which comprises treating a petroleum naphtha with 18-24 B. gravity caustic soda solution, separating the alkali layer, adding 90-98% strength sulfuric acid to said alkali layer, and separating the oil so formed by extraction with benzol.

7. The process of producing a material for use in o're flotation, which comprises treating a petroleum naphtha with 1824: B. gravitycaustic soda solution, separating the alkali layer, adding 9098% strength sulfuric acid to said alkali layer, and separating the oil so formed by extraction with benzol, then removing the benzol by distillation.

1 v8. A flotation material of the character described, consisting of the oily material formed by neutralizing an alkali liquid layer produced by washing'a petroleum oil with an alkali solution.

, 9. A flotation material of the character described, consisting of the oily material formed by neutralizing an alkali liquid layer produced by washing a sulfurous petroleum oil with an alkali solution, said material having the sulfurous constituents of the oil concentrated therein.

This specification signed this 27th day of August, 1928.

BURNELL R. TUNISON. 

